Get Ready for the Duck Jazz Festival on October 12 and 13

The Town of Duck's Duck Jazz Festival presented by PNC is coming up on October 12 and 13. The free festival, always held the first weekend in October, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. In honor of that milestone, let's look back at the festival's beginnings and then we'll look at what you can expect in 2024.

The Duck Jazz Festival Then

Back in 2005 the Town of Duck was thinking about creating a new off-season event to draw people to town, and Kathy McCullough-Testa, the town’s first public relations director and special events coordinator, came up with the idea for a jazz festival. At first she was met with a lot of naysaying – “You can’t do that here.” “It won’t work.” “It can’t be done.” and the like.

“At that time, there weren’t many large music events here on the Outer Banks, and most restaurants didn’t even have evening music,” McCullough-Testa says.

Plus, she admits, “I knew absolutely nothing about jazz.” But she learned and persevered and got the festival off the ground by October 2007 with two sponsors, local volunteers and four bands.

Duck Town Park, amphitheater and boardwalk are now mainstays of the village, but in 2007 all of that was in the planning stages.

“Duck didn’t even have a stage, electricity or water at the Town Park that year," McCullough-Testa remembers.

Performing under a pop-up tent on a concrete slab for the first festival were Jimmy Bruno Trio, The Fuzz Band, Laura Martier & John Toomey Quartet and Ruth Wyand, a mix of national, regional and local acts. People came, setting up lawn chairs and blankets on the lawn to watch.

The crowd at the first Duck Jazz Festival in 2007

After the first festival, McCullough-Testa was connected with John Ernesto, GM of the Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, PA, through festival performers Gerald Veasley and Jimmy Bruno. Ernesto, a regular vacationer in Duck, helped McCullough-Testa secure bigger artists for Duck Jazz Festival as the years went on.

McCullough-Testa ran the first six of the Duck Jazz Festivals, and the event grew exponentially, drawing bigger names, continuing the tradition of booking local acts, and bringing more and more fans to Duck Town Park.

“I did a lot of work on this, and I’m proud of it and I’m glad it’s continuing and growing,” she says. “I’m proud of how impactful it has been.”

McCullough-Testa says one thing she learned along the way is that the jazz community is small. The jazz artists know and support one another, and the jazz fans will travel to see their favorite artists. So, the Duck Jazz Festival brings in a mix of die-hard jazz fans and local residents and visitors who just want to get out and have a good time listening to free music outside. Along the way, those casual festivalgoers become jazz fans as well.

By 2011 Duck Jazz Festival was drawing a much bigger crowd.

The Duck Jazz Festival Now

The festival has grown exponentially in the last 15 years (it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic). The Duck Jazz Festival is now a world-class, internationally renowned jazz festival that draws some of the top names in jazz and welcomed more than 7,000 attendees in 2023.

Kay Nickens, public information and events director for the Town of Duck, is using the 15th anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on how the festival has grown.

“This year we’re celebrating the festival and how it’s grown and also celebrating jazz as a genre,” Nickens says. “This year is definitely an anniversary celebration of looking where the festival started, where we are now and where we are going.”

This year, the festival showcases artists who embody the timeless essence of jazz, bridging the gap between the past, present and future.

What that means for Nickens and staff is bringing forward emerging jazz artists like Jazzmeia Horn. Winner of the 2013 Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition, Horn will teach a vocal clinic for the choir students at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), a first for the festival. First Flight High School Jazz Band students, who open the amphitheater stage at the festival every year, will participate in a masterclass with the Jae Sinnett Quintet.

The crowd reached 7,000+ for the 2023 show, but still everyone is able to find a place on the lawn.

Nickens says outreach has always been an integral piece of Duck Jazz Festival.

“We are always looking at how we can use the jazz festival to foster these relationships in our community,” she says.

To honor the festival’s humble beginnings and celebrate this year’s milestone, two artists who performed at earlier festivals, Joe Baione and Lao Tizer, are returning.

Headlining in 2024 is Antonia Bennett, daughter of the late Tony Bennett, who carries on her father’s tradition of singing standards and jazz renditions of contemporary tunes. All the musicians and bands in the lineup offer vastly different approaches grown from the same root.

Thanks to sponsors like PNC Bank, the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and 18 others, every event at the Duck Jazz Festival is free and non-ticketed.

This festival would not be possible without the support of almost 100 volunteers and Town staff. It all comes together to create a well-orchestrated jazz festival of the highest order and a direct reflection of the value the Town of Duck places on live music, culture, education, the arts and jazz.

Antonia Bennett headlines the 2024 Duck Jazz Festival.

The Highlights 

Antonia Bennett - Daughter of jazz legend Tony Bennett, her style blends classic and contemporary jazz.

Jae Sinnett Quartet - Sinnett is a jazz drumming icon with a career alongside Joe Henderson and Branford Marsalis. He’s bringing legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker and soulful Ada Rovatti along.

Jazzmeia Horn – Grammy-nominated vocalist with a voice compared to Nina Simone and Betty Carter. She blends classic and contemporary styles.

The Lao Tizer Band - Lao Tizer is a Grammy-winning pianist offering up classics with a modern twist in high-energy performances.

Empire Strikes Brass – A nine-piece ensemble plays a high-energy fusion of New Orleans funk, rock and jazz.

U.S. Army Blues Band, Pershing’s Own – Formed in 1972, they preserve the jazz tradition and have performed worldwide.

Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience - Baione offers a fresh perspective and groovy arrangements on the vibraphone

First Flight High School Jazz Band - The local high students offer a high-energy performance filled with swing, improv and enthusiasm.

First Flight High School Honors Jazz Band will perform at 12:10 p.m. on Sunday.

Duck Jazz Festival Lineup

Thursday, October 10

6 p.m. Elizabeth City State University Choir

Friday, October 11

10 a.m. Children’s Story Time and Rhythm Play with Ascencion Music Academy

Saturday, October 12

4 p.m. Community Concert on the Greet with The U.S. Army Blues Band, Pershing’s Own

Sunday, October 13

10 a.m. Gates open

Main Stage

11 a.m. The Jae Sinnett Quintet featuring Randy Brecker and Ada Ravatti
1 p.m. Jazzmeia Horn
3:25 p.m. The Lao Tizer Band
5:25 p.m. Antonia Bennett

Amphitheater

12:10 p.m. First Flight High School Honors Jazz Band
2:20 p.m. Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience
4:30 p.m. Empire Strikes Brass

Things to Know

• The event goes on rain or shine.
• Well-behaved dogs are welcome.
• Chairs, blankets are welcome. Chairs are available for rent as well.
• Food and drink are available for sale at the festival.
• Picnics and Coolers are welcome. Glass is permitted.
• Recycling will be available, but not for glass.
• Umbrellas and tents are not allowed.
• Smoking is prohibited in Duck Town Park
• Videotaping the performances is prohibited.
• Bands will be available for autographs at the merchandise area immediately following their set.

For more information, click here.